Liam Hoden

Darren Ferguson will serve his touchline ban during the crunch South Yorkshire derby with Sheffield United on Saturday following the postponement of Doncaster Rovers’ trip to Scunthorpe United.

But the 11th hour cancellation of their short trip into Lincolnshire was not all bad news for Rovers with several players granted an extra week for their recovery from injury.

Andy Butler was passed fit to face former club Scunthorpe but there will be no lingering doubts over his health by the time the Blades come to town at the weekend.

Thorsten Stuckmann and Cameron Stewart were both due back in the squad at the weekend and now seem certain to feature on Saturday.

And Nathan Tyson has been granted more time after only returning to full training on Friday.

But there will be disappointment for Ferguson who will be banned from the touchline for one of the biggest occasions of the season at the Keepmoat.

Ferguson was due to miss the M180 derby after being charged by the FA with misconduct for “using abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official” following last week’s home defeat to Port Vale. He was also fined £1,000.

His ban will now roll on a game following the postponement of Saturday’s game due to a waterlogged pitch at Glanford Park.

Scunthorpe chief executive Jim Rodwell admitted he was baffled by the decision to call the game off.

“We have no idea why it was called off,” Rodwell told the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

“I am incredibly disappointed, upset and angry with the decision that has been made.

“The referee made the decision for an inspection where he got here.

“We didn’t plan one because we didn’t think there was any danger to the players.

“If he had given us another 15 minutes to half an hour to work on it then we could have had a very nice surface so I am very frustrated.